Take Back Your Bathroom From Germs & Odor

From the toilet to the tub millions of germs may be lurking in your bathroom.

Here are a few guidelines to help you take back control of your space from odor, grime, and worst of all dangerous bacteria.

Eliminating Sink and Bathtub Drain Odors

When foul odor surfaces in a bathroom, it’s likely coming from a drain source. Focus your attention on two places: the sink and the bathtub. The usual culprit is bacteria growing on something lodged inside the drain.

Remove it by using a drain-cleaning zip tool.

– Insert the tool in the drain.
– Pull the tool back out and remove any hair or other organic matter.
– Repeat until the drain is clear.
– Pour diluted bleach or hydrogen peroxide down the drain (one or the other, don’t mix the two together) to kill any remaining bacteria.

If you still have an odor, consider checking the trap and drain under the sink. The curve in the trap holds water to prevent sewer gas from seeping back into the living space from the drain pipe. If the water leaks out of the trap, it can break the seal and allow unpleasant odors into the house.

Check to be sure the trap and other drain pipe components are tight, not leaking, and that the trap is full of water. You also might want to pour disinfectant or bathroom cleaner down the drain to kill any mold or other causes of odors.

Keeping a Toilet Clean Without Using a Brush

When you were a child, it was scary to imagine what was hiding behind the closet. Now as an adult, it’s even scarier to consider what’s hiding beneath the toilet lid.

Scrubbing the toilet is often the worst part of your deep cleaning chores, but don’t let it be an afterthought.

A clean toilet keeps your household healthy, especially during the flu season. That’s because a messy toilet bowl quickly turns into a breeding ground for dangerous germs like E.coli and staph. In fact, an average toilet can contain upwards of 50 types of bacteria per square inch.

Keep that potentially dangerous situation at bay. There is an easy way to clean out your toilet and let it shine without a headache. The solution is Fluidmaster’s Flush ‘n Sparkle.

The self-cleaning system uses cartridges filled with a cleaning solution that go directly into the flush valve.

This installation method keeps a toilet from deteriorating. The chemicals will never touch the flapper, fill valve or other parts of the tank unlike drop-in-tablets, keeping your toilet in pristine condition.

Tablets can be caustic cleaners and eat away at the rubber seals inside a toilet. Also, if a piece of the tablet breaks off, it can get sucked into the toilet and block pipes.

Small = Big Bacteria

Some of the smallest spots in your bathroom can be home to a colony of germs. We’re talking about the light switch and your toothbrush.
Nearly 300 types of bacteria per square inch can hide out on the on/off switch by your door. When doing a deep clean, always remember to include it.

As for your toothbrush, it will sound a lot worse than it really is. Your toothbrush can contain at least 200,000 bacteria per square inch. Most of those germs already live inside your mouth so you are not likely to get sick. Just to be sure, store your toothbrush somewhere it can dry in-between uses.

Cleaning The Vent Fan

Bathroom exhaust vent fans need to be cleaned regularly.

Don’t overlook your exhaust fan inside your bathroom.

An average sized bathroom vent fan that’s used one hour a day will exhaust over 2,000,000 cubic feet of air a year, or the equivalent of the air inside 1,000 homes.

As air is drawn through the fan, dust builds up on the grill cover and the fan motor over time. Cleaning the cover and motor housing every six months to one year will remove most of the accumulated dust. Here’s how to clean your vent fan.

To clean a bathroom vent fan:

Turn the fan off at the switch or circuit breaker.

Press spring clips together to remove vent fan cover.

Remove the cover by pulling down until the cover is several inches from the ceiling. Press the spring-loaded wire clips, found on two sides of the cover, together then remove the clips from the slots in the fan housing.

Use a dusting brush on a vacuum to clean vent fan cover.

Place the fan cover on a towel and use a vacuum cleaner equipped with a bristle brush dusting attachment to clean the cover and grille thoroughly both inside and out.

Cleaning the vent fan motor with vacuum attachment.

Use the dusting attachment on the vacuum to clean inside the fan housing and around the motor. For hard to reach spots, use a crevice tool on the vacuum.

Reinstall the fan cover by press the clips on the fan cover together, and slip them over the slots in the fan housing. Finally, push the fan cover up until it seats against the ceiling.

Backed by his 40-year remodeling career, Danny served as the home improvement expert for CBS’s The Early Show and The Weather Channel for more than a decade. His extensive hands-on experience and understanding of the industry make him the go-to source for all things having to do with the home – from advice on simple repairs, to complete remodels, to helping homeowners prepare their homes for extreme weather and seasons.